Research reveals one more reason you need magnesium

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in this country. I’m always looking for ways to help stop this devastating disease. And a new study reinforces something I’ve known for years: Magnesium should be part of every diabetes-prevention plan.
Last year, I told you about a study that found magnesium cuts metabolic syndrome by 22 percent. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. And it’s often called “pre-diabetes” because, if left unchecked, it’s basically a one-way ticket to full-blown type 2 diabetes.
So it’s not surprising to see this new study linking low magnesium levels to diabetes.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 600,000 people. They compared magnesium intake to diabetes development. And they found that people who consumed the highest levels of magnesium had a 17 percent lower risk of developing diabetes.
Even more interestingly, the researchers noticed that there’s a direct correlation between the amount of magnesium consumed and the risk reduction. So the more people ingested, the more their diabetes risk plummeted. In fact, for every additional 100 mg of magnesium in the diet, diabetes risk dropped between 8 and 13 percent.
If you’re concerned about type 2 diabetes — and everyone really should be — it’s time to up your magnesium intake. Foods like almonds and spinach are good sources of this mineral. But I recommend you also supplement with magnesium to ensure you’re getting optimal levels.
One think to keep in mind, though: when it comes to supplements, not all magnesium is created equal. I recommend highly absorbable magnesium orotate (32 mg a day) or taurate (125 mg).